How to Install Marble Flooring Easy ?

July 27, 2010.

Marble flooring is quickly becoming one of the most popular flooring choices
among those doing home improvement projects. Marble is a naturally occurring
stone product that comes in a variety of natural tones. The tiles are durable
and look very classy when installed properly. In the past ten years, marble and
other stone product sales have grown at a rate of 2,000 percent. Beautiful,
durable, and relatively easy to install, marble flooring is a great choice for
the do-it-yourself home improvement project. As with any home improvement
product, before deciding on a marble floor make sure you understand the pros and
cons of your flooring choice.

Choices for Marble Flooring

There are two standard choices for your marble flooring, and each will create a
different effect in your home. Traditional marble tiles have a polished, shiny
finished, which adds a touch of class to a room. These tiles look great in an
entryway or foyer. A newly popular variety of marble flooring is tumbled
marbles. These marbles come in beige and milky tones. Instead of being polished,
they are buffed, and the finish is earthy and natural looking. These tiles work
well in large areas, such as kitchen/dining room combinations, as they often
come in larger sizes.

What You Need to Know About Marble Flooring

Before beginning to install, you
need to know a few things about marble flooring. First, certain substances, such
a shampoo, nail polish remover, and other common household products can cause
permanent staining to marble. To avoid this, the tile should be sealed using a
neutral pH breathable sealer after installation. The sealer will need to be
reapplied periodically, but will protect your floor from permanent staining.
Depending on the amount of foot traffic the floor will receive, the flooring
should be resealed every 9-18 months. Second, marble floors should not be
cleaned using commercial floor cleaners. Clean your marble floor with just warm
water. Tough stains can be removed using a peroxide soaked paper towel. Place
the towel over the stain and cover it with plastic wrap. Leave it long enough
for the peroxide to dissolve the stain, and then wash with warm water. After
cleaning your floor with warm water, follow with a dry paper towel, because
water can damage marble flooring. Because light colored marble can stain so
easily, you may want to consider using a darker variety, especially if your
floor is in a high-traffic area.

One benefit of marble flooring is its natural cooling properties. Marble is an
extremely dense solid and does not conduct heat well; because of this it takes a
long time to heat up. This property makes marble particularly popular in warm
climates. You may want to consider some area rugs if you are prone to cold feet
in the morning!

How to Begin Installation

Installing marble flooring is done in the same way as installing ceramic tile.
The main difference is the marble has greater weight than the ceramic tiles.
First, start with a completely clear floor. Test the floorboards to make sure
they are sturdy. If they are not sturdy, the grout between the tiles could
crack. If the floor needs to be stabilized, add joists or jack supports to the
level below the floor. After checking for stability, you need to check to be
sure your floor is level. Using a long level, check for slope in the floor. Also
check under the level to look for dips in the floor. If necessary, build up the
floor. A level floor is a must for installing a marble floor.

A cement backer board can be screwed directly to the plywood. This will
reinforce the floor, since marble tiles are relatively heavy. The tiles do not
give and are prone to cracking if the floor is not sturdy and unyielding. If you
choose not to use a cement baker board, you will need to reinforce your
floorboards with another layer of plywood. The tiles will be applied using a
thin-set adhesive.

Once you have prepared your floor, it is time to start installing your marble.
Start by finding the center of the room. Measure both the length and the width,
and put a chalk line down the center of each. Where these lines intersect is the
center of the room. Now, the next step is very important. Lay out your marble in
a test run. This is important because if you end up with a tiny piece of marble
at any end, you will need to shift your center line a little to avoid having a
tiny edge on one end of your floor. To keep a symmetrical look, have the
starting tile straddle the centerline if needed.

Now you are ready to begin laying your marble flooring. Start with a tile near
the center. Trace around the outside of this tile. Apply mortar, preferably a
thin-set mortar, inside the lines you traced. Place your tile

on the mortar.
This is your reference point for the rest of your floor. From this tile, spread
your mortar and use a trowel to notch it. When applying mortar over seams in the
floorboards, apply mesh mortar tape to the seams. This prevents cracks in the
grout when you are finished. After putting each tile on the mortar, place a
1/16-inch spacer between it and the next tile. This will ensure that the
finished project has and evenly spaced appearance.

Once you have finished laying your tile and given the mortar time to dry, it is
time to seal the marble. Sealing is best done by a professional and is very
important since marble is so easy to stain. Remember to have the sealing
reapplied every nine to eighteen months.

Benefits of Marble Flooring

One benefit of any type of tile flooring, including marble, is that if it is
damaged or stained, you only need to replace the damaged tiles, not the entire
floor. With a carpet or hardwood floor, significant damage would require
replacing the flooring for the entire room. You may want to consider buying some
spare tiles, in case you need to replace some in the future. Styles change, and
you may not be able to find an exact match to your flooring after a few years.

Now that you have your stunning marble flooring, ensure its longevity by a few
simple things. First, whenever possible, remove your shoes before walking on the
marble. Shoes pick up oil and dirt, and these substances can scratch and stain
your floor. Along the same lines, make sure your sweep or vacuum your floor
before popping, that way you will not grind any dirt particles into your floor.

Marble flooring will add class to any room of your house. Keep in mind that
marble requires special cleaning and proper installation. If you care for your
floor properly and remember to have it sealed periodically, you can enjoy the
elegant look of marble for years to come!